Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ votes on one roll call and local senators’ votes on two roll calls from the week of Oct. 19-23.
$71 MILLION FISCAL 2009 SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET (H 4288)
House 118-34, Senate 27-8, approved and sent to Gov. Deval Patrick a $71 million fiscal 2009 state budget to close the books out on the fiscal year that ended June 30.
Provisions include $60 million to cover Medicaid overruns; $5.3 million to pay for the election to fill the late Sen. Edward Kennedy’s seat; $900,000 for private police details and $100,000 for the state’s enhanced liquor enforcement programs.
The package is funded mainly by a portion of some $170 million in “reversions” - money that was unspent by various state agencies.
Supporters said that the $71 million is necessary in order to pay for important programs that help many people. They noted that this budget is funded without the need to borrow from the state’s Rainy Day Fund.
Some opponents said that approval of this budget is just more of the same irresponsible actions by the Legislature. They argued that there are dire predictions of a budget deficit of up to $1 billion and urged the Legislature to begin to figure out how to fill that hole instead of spending more money. Others took issue with individual items in the package.
(A “Yes” vote is for the $71 million budget. A “No” vote is against it).
Rep. Paul McMurtry No
Sen. Marian Walsh Yes
RECOVER MONEY POCKETED BY DEVELOPERS (H 4288)
Senate 10-25, rejected an amendment requiring the state’s inspector general (IG) to establish a special commission to recover for cities and towns all excess profits that companies illegally retained under the state’s Chapter 40 B law. That controversial law essentially exempts low and moderate income housing developers from local zoning bylaws in communities in which less than ten percent of the housing is deemed affordable by the state. The law caps developers’ profits at 20 percent and all profits above that are required to go to the local city or town.
Amendment supporters said that recent investigations by the IG have uncovered millions of dollars in excess profits that have been illegally pocketed by many developers. They noted that these developers cook their books and commit fraud in order to pocket more than the 20 percent profit which they are allowed under law. They argued that the IG needs the power to commence legal action and recoup this stolen money from these greedy firms.
Some opponents said that the Legislature should not set a precedent by giving this extraordinary power to the IG. Others argued that the Department of Housing and Community Development is currently in the process of trying to recoup money from the developers. Some said that there is nothing in current law that prohibits the IG from continuing his investigations and turning the cases of fraud over to the attorney general to recoup the money. They said that there is no need for an additional state law.
(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment requiring the IG to recover the excess profits. A “No” vote is against the amendment).
Sen. Marian Walsh No
ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL
BAN ON CUTTING THE VOCAL CORDS OF DOGS AND CATS (H 344)
The Judiciary Committee approved a bill that would prohibit the severing of vocal cords to suppress the voice of a dog or cat.
Supporters of the bill, sponsored by the Coalition to Protect and Rescue Pets and endorsed by Angell Animal Medical Center, more than 200 Massachusetts veterinarians and shelters statewide, say that the surgery poses serious risks regardless of the veterinarian’s experience or how the vocal cords are cut.
Opponents say that this is minor surgery which silences noisy dogs so that they can find a home. They argue that if devocalization is banned, there will be a rise in the surrender, abuse and euthanasia of noisy dogs.
Humane societies and animal shelters disagree, pointing out that devocalized dogs are abandoned just like any other dogs. Friends of the Plymouth Pound Director Gayle Fitzpatrick notes that she adopted a dog devocalized and abandoned by his breeder. She says that responsible selection, care, training and breeding practices, not convenience surgery, are in the best interest of animals and the community.
EXEMPT CITIES AND TOWN FROM GAS TAX (H 4288)
The Senate rejected an amendment that would exempt official city and town vehicles from the 21 cent per gallon gas tax.
RAISE FEE FOR LEGISLATORS’ SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES (H 4288)
The Senate turned down an amendment raising from $45 to $300 the fee for legislators’ specialty “House” and “Senate” license plates that have the state’s seal and identify the car as belonging to a state senator or representative. Similar government specialty plates are also available to the governor and other constitutional officers.
COMMEND STATE WORKERS
The House approved resolutions commending all state employees for their dedication and commitment to public service. The resolutions note that this was being done in preparation for the upcoming “Performance Recognition Day” that will be celebrated on November 6.
AGE OF POLICE OFFICERS (S 1065)
The Veterans’ Committee held a hearing on a proposal allowing cities and towns to raise from 36 to 42 the maximum age at which a veteran is eligible to apply to be a police officer or firefighter. The measure does not alter the current law that prohibits applications from non-veterans over 32.
EVACUATION CHAIRS FOR DISABLED (H 3724)
The Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security held a hearing on legislation requiring all residential buildings over four stories high to be equipped with evacuation chairs on each stairwell or evacuation route. The measure is sponsored by the Massachusetts Disability Policy Consortium and is aimed at helping with the emergency evacuation of people with disabilities who live on floors that are higher than fire department ladders.
BAN NOVELTY LIGHTERS (H 3924)
The Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee’s hearing also included a proposal that would ban the sale of toy-like or novelty lighters including ones that resemble cartoon characters, toys, guns, musical instruments, vehicles or animals. Supporters say that children often mistake these lighters for toys and note that the lighters are responsible for fires, injuries and death.
Other measures heard by the committee include making it a crime to price gouge food, fuel and shelter during a declared state emergency (S 930); protecting the privacy of persons who call 911 to report an emergency and exempting their names, addresses and phone numbers from the state’s public records law (S 947); requiring all establishments to provide signs that notify the occupants of the location of emergency exits, urge them to stay calm during an emergency and to proceed orderly to one of the exits (S 912) and the brief and vaguely worded measure requiring the Department of Public Safety to “take measures to improve public safety” (H 2243).
HOW LONG WAS LAST WEEK’S SESSION?
Beacon Hill Roll Call tracks the length of time that the House and Senate were in session each week. Many legislators say that legislative sessions are only one aspect of the Legislature’s job and that a lot of important work is done outside of the House and Senate chambers. They note that their jobs also involve committee work, research, constituent work and other matters that are important to their districts. Critics say that the Legislature does not meet regularly or long enough to debate and vote in public view on the thousands of pieces of legislation that have been filed. They note that the infrequency and brief length of sessions are misguided and lead to irresponsible late night sessions and a mad rush to act on dozens of bills in the days immediately preceding the end of an annual session.
During the week of October 19-23, the House met for a total of seven hours and 51 minutes while the Senate met for a total of nine hours and nine minutes.
Monday Oct. 19 House 11:03 a.m. to 11:13 a.m.
Senate 11:01 a.m. to 2:48 p.m.
Tuesday Oct. 20 House 11:01 a.m. to 6:23 p.m.
Senate 1:07 p.m. to 6:25 p.m.
Wednesday Oct. 21 No House session
No Senate session
Thursday Oct. 22 House 11:01 a.m. to 11:20 a.m.
Senate 11:05 a.m. to 11:09 a.m.
Friday Oct. 23 No House session
No Senate session
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